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Very rare Elgin “Captain Molyneux” ladies’ Art Deco design wristwatch in 14K white gold fill with green enamel, circa 1928.

One of the scarcest and most desirable Elgin "Parisienne" enamel watches, the “Captain Molyneux” was designed by and named for Captain Edward Henry Molyneux (1891 to 1975), a British Army captain who opened his own fashion house on Rue Royale in Paris in 1919, designing for actresses such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Vivien Leigh. The watch is very rare in green and this one of only a few I have ever seen. It has an asymmetrical sunray design inlaid with green enamel and a unique offset triangular dial. This example is in excellent condition with no brassing, but with a ding on the bezel near 10 o'clock (see photo #4). Green enamel is excellent and complete. Caseback is excellent, with a two tiny specks of wear in the corners. The case measures 30mm long and 17mm wide. Original dial is good. Acrylic crystal is excellent. This watch is powered by its correct 7-jewel Elgin grade 488 manual wind movement, just serviced and running well.

(SOLD)


Captain Edward Molyneux by James Abbe, Paris, 1922

 

 

 

 

 

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